MIAMI — The Miami Heat could have trade interest in Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
A future Hall of Famer, Irving will play this season after missing all of last season.
“Kyrie Irving trade scenarios are something that I think we are going to be talking about between now and the February 11th trade deadline as well,” Fischer said. “Has already been some rumblings of the Heat having interest in him. I think we’re going to have plenty of teams mentioned with trade interest for Kyrie Irving, especially once he comes back and showcases that he is fully healed from a torn ACL that kept him out for all of last season. Those that spot Miami with their point guard depth are the early, early, early spots that people around the league are looking at as potential Kyrie Irving trade destinations.”
The Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks and signed former Mavericks guard Klay Thompson this offseason.
Miami also has Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davion Mitchell.
Mavericks Shut Down Irving Trade Interest
Several contenders were interested in trading for Irving this offseason, but the Mavericks told interested teams they wanted to keep Irving next to Cooper Flagg, sources told Dallas Sports Journal.
Irving and Flagg have a close relationship, sources said. Flagg received constant, invaluable mentorship from Irving last season even though Kyrie didn’t play, sources said.
The Mavericks won just 26 games last season, but Flagg had a fantastic rookie campaign. The 19-year-old played in 70 games and averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field, 29.5% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line.
Flagg registered 13 double-doubles and won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award. His best game was against the Orlando Magic on April 3.
Flagg put up 51 points in 33 minutes, becoming the first teenager and the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game.
Kyrie Is A Special Talent
Irving will make $39.5 million this season. The Mavericks acquired the Duke product from the Brooklyn Nets during the 2022-23 season.
The 2011-12 Rookie of the Year, Irving enters this season with career averages of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the regular season and 23.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the playoffs with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Nets and Mavericks.
The 2016 NBA champion with Cleveland averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game during the 2024-25 season before tearing his ACL against the Sacramento Kings.
Irving helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024, a series the Celtics won in five games.
In 128 regular-season games with Dallas, Irving is averaging 25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game. The Mavericks are 75-53 when Irving plays.
If the Mavericks have a poor record near the 2027 NBA trade deadline, it will be fascinating to see what happens with Irving, who doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
Irving On Finishing His Career In Dallas
Irving expects the question about finishing his career in Dallas to come up several times this season.
He spoke about that at Mavericks media day.
“I feel like I’m going to be asked that question a few times throughout the year. I wish a lot of that was under my control, but I think it’s a collaborative effort here, and I’m mature enough to understand that experience I have in the league,” Irving said. “I can use that as just talking points and conversation points when I’m talking to Masai and also Mike and coaching staff. You see like there is a disparity in age. Everyone likes to make [a] deal out of it. Everyone on social media likes to talk about it. It’s actively part of every conversation, which I don’t mind.”
“Like I said, every fair criticism that we’re brought to this franchise is fair. I’m never going to shy away from that either,” Irving continued. “But I think my focus is just continuing to develop, continuing to put my best foot forward with these guys. When we’re out there on the floor, just have fun. And when we say have fun, it means compete at the highest level. We’re trying to win. Nobody here is just trying to throw the season away and say, hey, we have no expectations. We have high expectations for ourselves, and I have high expectations for my guys out there, and they can expect high things from me as well.”
The Mavericks begin the 2026-27 season on the road against the Houston Rockets.
